I don't own anything. All characters and all rights belong to Ichiei Ishibumi*
M for mature topics. No children allowed. *
The Broken Boosted Gear
By Try Another Time
The island trembles. The alliance members go utterly silent as they watch one of the most unusual sights. Their eyes couldn't believe what Ddraig was doing at the moment.
Ddraig and Hephestus locked hands as they put all their strength into it. Their muscles tensed up to the limit as the two males smirked at each other. The area around them was covered in a spiral of flames.
"Look at you, a daughter? Why didn't you let me know sooner? I would have rushed here to meet her." Ddraig asks the god with a smile on his face. He increases the force behind his handshake.
"Are you one to judge me? You went ahead and got yourself sealed for almost 22 centuries, and after finally escaping, you dare to come to visit me last?" Hephaestus fights back by increasing his force.
"My bad. A lot of things have happened." Ddraig admits.
The back and forth continue for a few moments until they release each other. The tension from before quickly disappeared and was replaced by a welcoming atmosphere.
"Allow me to present her more formally to you. She's my sweet daughter Eurydice. She's a young goddess who has mastered all my teachings in the forge. Eury, come and say hi to this idiot."
Eury, who had moved away from the pair, steps closer to them. She wore a two-piece flame bikini, long loose red pants, and a black apron. A pair of goggles sat around her neck. She was a tall goddess who easily towered over Ddraig, around the same height as Tiamat, even if she was younger. She was muscular, and several flame symbols covered her skin. Eury seemed like a goddess loved by the flames of the forge, just like her father.
Her flaming heart eyes looked deep into the soul of those who captured her sight.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Ddraig-Oji-san. Dad told me many stories about you over the years, and I patiently waited to meet the dragon my dad respects so much." Eury offers her hand.
Ddraig shakes it. "It is my pleasure as well. I'm happy to see that Hephaestus has such an amazing daughter. Did you train a lot with him? Your muscles are amazing, and you're far stronger than your old man."
"Am I? Hahaha. I got to thank Aunt Athena for that. She trained me alongside Uncle Apollon and Auntie Artemis since I turned eight. Mom was a bit against it but came around after they discussed it." Eury says in a cheerful and proud tone. Her flaming heart eyes were filled with joy at the praise she was getting.
"Oh, so Athena and the other help you raise her? Who's the mother?" Ddraig asks with visible curiosity.
Hephaestus scratches his head. "Before we talk about why don't you present those people over there? I'm curious about this group you have with you." Hephaestus quickly changed the subject.
"Sure," Ddraig says, although he notices the slight discomfort on Hephaestus's face. Ddraig turns around and waves his hand. "Come closer; he won't bite."
Tiamat and the rest come closer to the trio with amazement at the ease with which the dragon and god talk to each other. One thing was hearing about it, but another was seeing it with their own eyes.
"Alright, this beautiful dragoness is her majesty Tiamat, the true Chaos Karma Dragon. We became mates shortly after I exited my egg after escaping from the booster gear." Ddraig starts with Tiamat.
Tiamat bows her head. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Hephestus. My dearest mate told me many things about you, but the reality is much more surprising than a few tales."
Hephestus bows to her as well. "Oh my, I can't believe it happened. This idiot and I talked about you many times back in the day. I kept saying that he should settle and ask you to stay with him, but he kept claiming that he wasn't ready for a relationship and was too immature to be with you then. "My current self can't make her happy. I'll leave that to my future self." Said this idiot many times. He finally settled; I'm happy for both of you. He also gave you the bracelet; I hope you use it soon. I want to see my creation at work."
Tia smiles as she watches Ddraig blushing after Hephaestus reveals some of his secrets. "I'm excited to use it as well."
Ddraig then moves to the next person. "This young magician who's holding my jacket is Le Fay Pendragon. She's my second mate."
"Mate? Ddraig, isn't she a bit too young?" Hephaestus asks. "I didn't think you had a thing for young humans."
"No, the circumstances behind our relationship are complicated, but I care about her. She's my precious mate. I'll tell you later about the whole affair." Ddraig says in a severe tone.
Hephestus waves his hands. "Is alright. I trust you." His eyes turn to Eury for a second, and the girl shows her thumbs up as a sign of approval. Hephaestus then turns to Le Fay. "Nice to meet you, young miss. How's life with my idiotic brother in arms?"
Le Fay still blushes after hearing Ddraig's words but controls it. "It is nice to meet you, Lord Hephaestus. My life with my groom is fun and enjoyable. Although we haven't advanced that much regarding our relationship, I always feel love and care for by him."
Hephaestus smiles at the reaction of the girl. "Is alright. I hope that your life together is a happy one. Dragon's harems tend to grow a lot. I hope you spend as much time with him even when more members join." Hephaestus says as he wonders how far Ddraig's harem will grow.
Ddraig scratches his head before he presents the next member. "This cute girl dressed up for a day on the beach is Tosca Welsh, my daughter."
Hephaestus eyes widden.
Tosca takes a step forwards and bows to the god. "It is a pleasure to meet you, uncle Hephaestus. The old man told me that my survival and transformation into a dragon are all thanks to your work."
Hephaestus approaches the girl and starts to analyze her with a grin. "Were you human or another race before?" He takes out a small notebook and begins to write down information.
"Human," Tosca replies.
"Oh my. You have horns, eyes, and a tail. Can you transform into a dragon?"
"Yes. Do you want me to transform?" Tosca questions the god.
"Not, at least for now. I'm happy that my invention worked; items that protect lives are some of my greatest ones, and that egg may be the one I'm most proud of. I would like to know the whole story at another date. So it is good to see that Ddraig is raising such a cute daughter. I hope that you and Eury get along with each other." So the god turns to his daughter.
Eury is silently watching Tosca from head to toe. "Hey, do you need a sword? I feel like something is missing from you. My instincts tell me I can create an amazing item with you." Her face shows an excitement that only a blacksmith could understand.
Tosca eyes shine with interest. "Yes, can we talk about it? The old man told me he would get me one once we meet uncle Hephaestus."
"You're coming with me then. We need to discuss what you want." Eury turns to Ddraig. "I'm taking her with me. Come inside the shop." Eury advances and picks up Tosca like a doll before she goes inside the shop.
"Eh?" Tosca is surprised by the young goddess's actions.
The members of the alliance and Hephaestus are left smiling by the whole affair.
"Well, it seems like Eury has found her next job. Let's go inside." Hephaestus turns around and guides the group into his shop.
As soon as they entered, the group was amazed at the immense size of the shop. Materials and unfinished items continued to be moved around by claws or golems. Large complex heating systems continue to transport steam and heat around the different areas of the maze-like forge.
"Is it just me, or has it gotten bigger since I visited last time?" Ddraig asks.
"I had to expand due to Eury's projects. The girl has a talent for robotics and creating large items. Right now, she's finishing Athena's project." Hephaestus points to an oversized black Rubik's cube hanging in an area much higger than their location. "That is her first project in which I didn't help, so my expectations are high."
"You sound like a proud parent. Are you keeping her hidden from the outside world for such a reason?" Michael asks.
"Yes and no; Eury is picky regarding her work getting out there. I don't promote her to my clients because I want to respect her desires. She claims that her creations should be used by clients who possess respectable goals. Each item she makes has a purpose, and she puts all her attention into making them into the best. We haven't had problems with the clients I have chosen to work with over the ages, but if she distrusts a client, she lets me know as soon as possible." Hephaestus stops on top of a platform before he turns around. "Come in. We're going up."
The group gets on top and quickly ascends to a different level of the complex shop. As they go up, the group watches another platform in which Eury and Tosca are going up with a bunch of materials alongside them. The girls are discussing their plans relatively peacefully.
"Seems like they have hit it off quite well," Shiva says calmly.
"They are like their fathers," Serafall chirps.
The others turn to Ddraig and Hephaestus. The pair are smiling, yet they say nothing. It was as if they knew their daughters were bound to hit off quite well.
After a few minutes, the group arrives at a small living room where a large black marble table awaits them. The room's wooden walls were filled with art pieces from different realms and styles. Each seemed unique and not even in the same domain as most human pieces.
"Take a seat. The golems will bring us refreshments." Hephaestus takes his seat while waving the others to do the same.
One by one, each one takes their seat, and thus, the conversations continue.
"This beautiful young lady is Serafall Leviathan, one of the four great satans and a close friend of mine. She's the representative of the devils." Ddraig says.
"Close friends? More like almost a couple." Tiamat teases Serafall's relationship.
Serafall ignores the statement and turns to the god of the forge. "It is truly an honor to finally meet the god behind many legendary items. Ddraig has spoken well about you."
Hephaestus waves his hand. "I'm just a blacksmith that strives to make the best items he can. There's not that much to me besides that." Hephaestus looks at the girl for a few moments. "Now, is it true or not? Are you close friends or his girlfriend?" Hephestus teases Serafall.
Serafall starts to whistle while looking away from him. The young devil starts to play with her fingers like a maiden in love. "Friends, we are but a couple….. We have yet to formalize the relationship. We have gone on many dates together but get stopped or interrupted by something before we… kiss or talk about taking the next step. I'm waiting for him to take me on another date and finally seal the deal."
"Oh, would you look at her? She's like a damsel in love." Tiamat says. "Dear, I don't want to intrude, but you should finally take that step with her. She's not brave enough to do it on her own."
Ddraig covers his face. "Issei, why didn't we take care of this already?" The dragon turns to Serafall and sees her blushing. "I know; I just need to plan it. I promise it will happen next time. The next date is going to be one you won't forget."
"I'll be waiting," Serafall says in a joyful tone.
The other members of the alliance try to keep their laughs under control as the actions of their allies make it hard for them to stay serious.
Shemhazai decides that are enough laughs for the time before presenting himself. "I'm Shemhazai of Grigory. I'm the representative of the fallen angels. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Pleasure is mine. I heard many rumors about you and your fellow fallen angels' creations. It would be a pleasure to exchange information with you." Hephestus says.
"It would be our pleasure," Shemhazai says.
Shiva follows suit. "Shiva of Mount Kailash; this is the first time we have met, and I gotta say that I enjoy it. For a descendant of Uranus, you prove yourself to be much more approachable than many of your fellow gods."
"I don't deserve such praise. I just have more experience dealing with those outside of this realm. After traveling to other realms, I expanded my vision and learned to be more approachable to those outside the Golden Archipelago." Hephaestus says as he remembers many of his experiences throughout the ages.
Finally, Michael presents himself formally to the god. "Hephaestus, God of the Forge, thank you for inviting us into your home and offering us your hospitality. I, Michael as the representative of heaven and the angels, appreciate your attitude with us even with all the history behind our pantheons."
Hephaestus waves his hand. "You don't need to be so formal with me, Michael. I know more about you than what you think."
"Huh? But we never meet?" Michael questions the god.
"But Athena did. She told me many stories about your meetings on Earth before the war. She was the happiest I had ever seen her after talking to you. She misses those moments even if she doesn't say it." Hephaestus watches as Michael's face saddens at the mention of the goddess. "You should talk to her while you're here, Michael. She considers you one of her closest friends."
"If the opportunity appears, I like that, but you're our main target. Ddraig is time for you to ask him." Michael turns to the dragon.
Ddraig takes a deep breath. He turns to the god. "I know it has been a long time since we meet, and we joke about this on many occasions, but I formally want to ask this. Would you join me, Hephaestus? Would you leave this place and come with us to the alliance? We need all the help we can get, and I trust you like a brother."
Hephaestus smirks. "I have been waiting for this for a long time, idiot. I even rejected Athena's invitation because I was waiting for you to return and ask me. I knew that one day you'd grow into a dependable dragon that others would follow, and my expectations have been proven right. My tools and talents are at your disposal, Ddraig. Show me the path that you're following right now."
Ddraig smiles as he stretches his hand and seals the deal with the god. "Welcome aboard, brother. A difficult path awaits us, but together we can achieve the impossible. Is there anything you'll like to know right now? Or do you need time before you can move your operation to a different location?"
Hephaestus plays with his beard. "What are the major plans for the alliance? I heard rumors, but I like to know the truth from all of you. What are your goals for the future? Are you seeking conquest or coexistence?"
"The alliance seeks coexistence. We have sent messengers to many places seeking allies. We don't seek to conquer other pantheons. We only seek a better future for all." Serafall starts.
"Dark times are approaching us, and if we don't unite, we are bound to lose everything. The times for endless wars amongst pantheons are in the past. We need to be better and start to move forward." Shemhazai followers suit.
"Three calamities my eyes have seen. The first is one that everyone knows. The curse of the gods will return due to the actions of those who seek to cause chaos. Trihexa will return, and we must eliminate it when it comes. If we try to seal it again, we will lose too much. We need the beast gone before the two other calamities arrive." Shiva says in a severe tone.
"We need all the help we can get, Hephaestus. We need to unite, so that's why we are recruiting anyone willing to believe in the alliance's goals." Michael then turns to the god. "Do you believe us?"
"Can you believe in their words, Lord Hephaestus?" Le Fay asks.
Hephaestus grows silent for a moment. His eyes turn serious. "... How couldn't I believe you? The fact that Shiva is here proves the severity of the circumstances. I know that some gods and beings can see or prophetize the future. The Fates once came to me asking for my help to repair an item for them. As a payment, they left me one prophecy, "If thou ignores the words of friends, thou will pay the heftiest of prices." I have feared that prophecy for years. As I watched Eury grow, I feared the worst and tried my best to keep her safe. If you say true, I must move and do whatever I can to ensure she's safe. Have you tried talking to Zeus about this?"
"All messengers have been denied entry into this and Hades's realms. They want nothing to do with us." Tiamat says.
"Old bastard, he's still an unreasonable idiot. If Zeus doesn't listen to you, we can only try recruiting Athena and her group. Once she knows, she'll join in a flash. That sister of mine has a far better talent for leading than Zeus." Hephaestus admits with a wide grin. He felt proud of Athena.
"Then we must call her. We need to move as quickly as possible. We don't know what-" Before Ddraig had the time to finish that sentence, the loud sounds of lighting bolts interrupted their conversation. "Why must my luck suck so much?"
"Let's see what's happening outside." Hephaestus snaps his fingers, and several light windows appear around the room. "The sounds were loud, so it must be Zeus' weapons. Let's see what my golems can see."
The windows show the surrounding of the island first before turning to the distance in the direction of the massive Mount Olympus.
The eyes of golems were so effective that even at such a significant distance, they could see the outside of the residence of the gods with ease. A large chunk of the temple the Olympians called home was blown to pieces.
Then, those present saw sparks flying in all directions as two gods clashed against each other while they flew around the mount.
The golems also tracked several flying figures fleeing Mount Olympus while approaching the island.
"Athena, she's fighting Zeus," Hephaestus says.
"How can you be so sure about that?" Shemhazai asks.
Hephaestus gets up. "Follow me, and I'll tell you why." The god let them back to the first floor.
"Athena is the firstborn of Zeus, but her birth is shrouded in tragedy. Hestia told me the story when I was younger. Zeus forced Metis, Athena's mother, to marry him. During her pregnancy, Zeus asked Gaia for wisdom, and she told him to raise the child with care, yet the Fates offered him one prophecy. "Should the child be born, one day it will become the lord of the Heavens." Zeus feared losing his place as the leader of Olympus, and thus he tricked Metis into transforming into a drop of water before swallowing her. Athena was born inside Zeus's stomach, and Metis did everything to protect her. She went as far as to sacrifice her body and soul to become an armor, shield, and spear that still protects Athena. Athena used those gifts to escape her prison. Covered in blood and barely a teenager, Athena rose from the depths of Zeus's forehead. Athena was weak, yet she still pointed her spear at the god who had tried to kill her. Hestia was the one that interrupted the fight that was about to take place by calming Athena down. She was friends with Metis, and thus why she took care of her daughter. Hestia raised Athena alone as no other gods dared to approach her. She was the prophesied child that was once going to take over her father's throne."
"So Zeus fears Athena? Due to the prophecy?" Serafall asks.
Hephaestus nods. "Athena is likely his equal, but she has more potential to grow. Hestia said that as a young teen, she was already an outstanding warrior. Athena was a prodigy in strength, technique, and strategy, and with Hestia's help, she sharpened those skills to even greater heights. Ares tested his powers against her, and he lost on many occasions. If Athena lost once, she would get up and come twice as strong. So it got to the point that Ares feared facing her in actual combat as if she genuinely went all out; he was bound to lose his life. But her strength is not what Zeus fears the most; it is her rebelliousness. Athena challenged Zeus's orders time after time. When Hera threw me to the sea after being born, Athena searched for me alongside Hestia. I later learned that Zeus told her not to interfere with me, yet Athena disobeyed and did as she wanted. They helped Euryome care for me until I could stand on my two feet. After that, Athena took me to the cyclops, where I learned to master my powers. When Zeus disregarded Leto's pleas for help during her pregnancy, Athena took her to Earth, where she gave birth to the twins Apollon and Artemis. Athena continues to challenge him, and this may be another one of those cases."
"Old man, what's happening?" Tosca asked as she met the main group with Eury.
"Athena…." Ddraig turns to Hephaestus. "Is there a reason why they are fighting now?"
"I'm not sure. It could be anything. There's a lot that could be behind this fight." Hephaestus says.
Suddenly the front door of his home is forcefully opened. Hestia is the first one to come inside while holding a small girl in her arms. The girl was around five years old physically. The girl had blueish hair that resembled lighting and eyes that shone like pearls.
Right behind her were Apollon, Artemis, and all of their followers.
"Hestia? Why do you have "Pandora" in your arms? Do you understand how much trouble that means for all of us?" Hephaestus asks.
"Mom?" Eury questions her mother.
"We are getting out of here. Athena has decided that the time has come. Olympus has no salvation, and we're escaping this realm with Pandora." Hestia says. Her eyes turned to the members of the alliance. "I know it is not my place to ask, but please, can you help Athena? I feared that Poseidon and others would join the fight to aid Zeus. Athena also needs someone to stop her if she goes too far."
Ddraig and the alliance members look at each other for a few moments.
"Hephaestus, can you take care of my daughter and young mate? It seems that I need to join the battlefield once more." Ddraig says as he summons his armor.
"Are you sure about this? You don't owe me anything." Hephaestus asks,
"Athena is an important ally we should recruit. If we fail now, we will regret it afterward." Shiva says as he cracks his knuckles. "It'll be good for us to test our strength against Zeus's forces."
"You hear him. Let's go and end this fight before it takes a turn for the worst." Tiamat joins.
The other alliance members nod as they accept the task at hand.
Michael's face shows worry for the goddess. "Let me get there on time before she does something she might regret."
Ddraig turns to Le Fay and Tosca. "Follow Hephaestu's orders; I promise to return once the fight ends."
"Be careful. Don't push yourself too much. Tia, Serafall, protect him." Le Fay holds her chest as she looks at him. "Is this the fear that I feel?"
"Come back in one piece. Mom, Serafall, ensure he doesn't make a stupid mistake." Tosca says.
"You got it," Serafall says with a cheeky smile.
"Leave to us. Let's go, everybody." Tiamat takes the lead.
The members of the alliance walk towards the exit.
"I'll join you. Apollon, start the Unicorn with the rest. We need that thing moving as soon as possible." Artemis says as she follows after the others.
"Got it, sis. Eury-chan, we need the unicorn. Is it ready?" Apollon questions the girl.
"I'm still missing a few things and components, but it should fly if we activate it now. Dad, can you take care of the forge while we take care of the unicorn?" Eury says as she turns to her father.
"Got it, everyone outside of the forge. We need to get this thing packed." Hephaestus whistles and the Rubiks cube from before descends. "Golems, take the package to the outside. Everyone else, follow Eury and Apollon."
A large gate opens, allowing the golems to move the large cube to the outside; Tosca and Le Fay follow the Eury alongside everyone else.
After the cube is at a safe distance, the golems put it down before returning to the forge; Eury approaches the cube alongside Apollon.
Tosca and Le Fay watched as all the golems around the island returned to the forge. Once every single one is inside, Hephaestus exits the home before it starts to shrink into a small white cube. The god then approaches the group with a serious face.
"Le Fay did the forge just-"
"Tosca, don't question the gods' abilities, especially not the ones of a god such as Hephaestus."
The girls turned their sights back to Eury and Apollon. The cube started to shine before the pieces separated from each other. A beam of light shuts up to the sky while the sound of a legendary beast echoes around the area. From the beam of light, a structure starts to take shape.
White as a cloud, big as a small nation, and shaped like a stallion with a golden horn, it was an outstanding ship that only a god could create.
The ship shoots a light beam to the ground.
"Is activation has started. Everyone has read the manuals, right?" Eury questions the followers of his fellow gods—the amazons, hunters, and members of Apollon's harem + children nod. "Go up and take your positions. The coordinates should be the first floor of the underworld. We will depart as soon as Athena and the others are back."
"You heard her. Everyone up." Apollon shouts.
The followers enter the beam in an orderly faction before being sucked inside the ship.
"You did an amazing job, Eury-chan. I'll go first." Apollon says before he joins the others inside the ship.
"I'm proud of you, Eury. This ship is beyond anything I could have created." Hephaestus says as he admires the ship for a moment.
"There's still a lot I need to learn. The ship is far from complete. It was made to be a home and not a battleship. Its defense systems are still incomplete." Eury says.
"You'll finish it at another time. For now, we need to focus on the path ahead." Hestia says as she approaches her daughter while holding Pandora with all the care in the world.
The young girl points her finger at the ship. "Mama's home?" Pandora asks.
"Yes, Pandora. That's your mom's new home and yours as well." Eury smiles as she caresses Pandora's face.
"Lord Hephaestus, who is this child?" Le Fay asks.
"... She's one of the secrets that Zeus has tried to keep hidden from the outside. A creation of his. She's Pandora, Zeus' creation, an artificially created goddess; She's is technically our sibling, but Athena has raised her as a daughter while Zeus wasn't looking. She's a goddess that can't age and only possess one function. Inside Olympus, there's a box, one that I made myself. The box absorbs the disease, catastrophes, and everything terrible that can affect the realm; it is the thing that has kept the realm safe for centuries since Uranus and Gaia were dethroned. The realm is like this today because of the box, but such a box can also be used as a weapon which was an unintended result. If one were to open the box, the realm in which the box was found at the time would fall to ruin. To control this, Zeus asked for a seal that a being of his choice could only open; Pandora was created for that. Hidden from outsiders and carefully guarded for one purpose, should Zeus seek to eliminate a realm, he would send Pandora alongside the box as the ultimate weapon to destroy his enemies. Only Pandora can open the box; I ensured it was indestructible, so the only way to use it is through Pandora."
The girls turned in shock at the small girl.
"Where is the box? Don't tell me we are taking it with us?" Tosca asks.
Hestia shakes her head. "The box is still deep inside the depths of Mount Olympus. Athena only cares about Pandora; We have taken her away before Zeus can use her. Pandora is a child, and if Zeus got the opportunity, he could easily plant the seed that could lead to Pandora opening the box. As long as Pandora and the box are kept away, there's nothing to fear."
Hestia tried to sound at ease, yet she feared what could happen if Pandora and the box met. "Would Pandora survive if she were to open the box? How much death and chaos would the contents of the box cause if it was ever opened?"
*UVERworld- Colors of the Heart*
Only the future will tell.
The group turned their eyes toward Mount Olympus and the fight that was taking place. Even the eyes of the young girl focused on the conflict that still rages on.
The battle between father and daughter had just begun. Will the prophecy become a reality, or will everything end in tragedy? Only the future will tell.
*Notes of the author: Here, we stand at the clash between father and daughter. Destiny has its way of bringing everything together. Anyways, Athena's armor is called Metis's Embrace. It has been with her from a young age and is practically part of her. One can't remove the armor; Others can use the shield and spear for a short time before returning to Athena. I planned to introduce Pandora in the sides stories, but we ran out of them. Pandora is a goddess similar to a particular goddess of death; their fathers created both for their selfish purposes. The Unicorn is Athena's new home, and its name is due to the purity of Athena, Artemis, and Hestia, although Apollon is one of the gods with the biggest harems (the guy doesn't care about many things like his dad, yet he cares for each of his lovers.) See you next time.*